Gag order issued in Perrywinkle custody case | News

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Rayne Perrywinkle, the mother of an 8-year-old girl who was abducted and slain in 2013 returned to court Wednesday morning in an attempt to regain custody of her two other daughters 6-year-old Destiny and 5-year-old Neveah.

Multiple parties were represented in court, including both parents, paternal grandfather and the state.

All parties argued and Judge Davis agreed that by statute the hearing should be closed. A gag order was issued to all parties.

The termination of parental rights was also discussed, but the hearing was delayed until August 18 at 9 a.m.

Outside the Duval County Courthouse, supporters of the girls, Destiny and Neveah, held signs and prayed in a circle.

Amy Decker, who was once a foster parent for the children, said she was disappointed a custody ruling was not made Wednesday, but that she is not giving up hope.

"I know we are holding the light for them. I know they will be liberated soon," she said.

The girls were placed in protective custody by the state shortly after their sister's murder approximately 400 days ago.

Decker said the mission of supporters is to be pro-Destiny and pro-Neveah and not anti-Rayne. However, some made it clear they don't believe she should have full custody again.

"She is not a mother. She is just an egg donor," said mother Melissa Delance.

In her first extensive interview in nearly a year, Perrywinkle told the Florida Times-Union that people point and take photos of her in public. She says the public blames her for her daughter, Cherish's, death.

Donald James Smith, 57, is accused of killing Cherish after befriending her mother at a Dollar General store last summer. Police say he took the Rayne Perrywinkle and her young children to a Wal-Mart store, where he offered to buy clothes and food. The girl disappeared after she went with Smith to a McDonald's inside the store.